At the time of its release, Galaxy Buds Live was the first truly wireless headphones beyond the usual pattern. Their structure resembled (and still resemble) beans, thanks to which they perfectly fit the user’s ear. Due to their appearance, they can be treated in the category of cool headphones and lifestyle gadgets. They are unusual, so not everyone will suit them – it’s completely natural.
However, while the Galaxy Buds Live is headphones more or less halfway between the earbuds and the earbuds, the Galaxy Buds Pro is typically earbuds. This alone makes them soundproof the environment better. And while we’re at it, the sales set includes a total of three pairs of rubber bands, thanks to which each user will be able to adjust their size to their own ears.
Jabra has made a strong mark on the truly wireless headphones market – both the Jabra Elite 65t and Jabra Elite 75t have enjoyed (and still are) quite well received by consumers. Over-ear model Elite 85h, which he considered a great choice for “business headphones.”
General
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro | Jabra Elite 85t | |
| | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Samsung | Jabra |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Colors | Phantom Violet, Phantom Black, Phantom Silver | Titanium Black |
| Battery life | Up to 8 hours (28 with charging case) | 30 Hours |
| Weight | 6.3 grams | 7 grams |
| Connectivity | Wireless, Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
Design
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro | Jabra Elite 85t | |
| Type | In Ear | In Ear |
| Dimensions | 16.5 x 27.3 x 14.9mm (Earbud) | 23.1 x 19.0 x 16.2 mm (Earbud) |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.2 oz, 1.6 oz | 52Â grams |
As far as the design details are concerned, it is worth noting that the headphones are small – 20.5 x 19.5 x 20.8 mm and each of them weighs only 6.3 g. They are shiny on the outside, which contrasts quite nicely with a matte case with dimensions of 27.8 x 50 x 50.2 mm and a weight of 44.9 g. The case is so small that it can even fit in a trouser pocket.
Jabra Elite 85t looks great, especially in this color version. The manufacturer is taking a different path than copying Apple AirPods, although in the case of this type of construction it is difficult to talk about originality.
Nevertheless, the headphones look very good in the ear – mainly due to the fact that they do not stick out too much, and the beige color does not stand out especially against the skin. You do not have to worry about any flashing LEDs.
Features
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro | Jabra Elite 85t | |
| USB | USB-C | USB-C |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Music Controls | Yes | Yes, Touch Sensor |
| Quick Charge | Yes | Yes, 10 Minutes = 1 Hours |
| Speakers | 2 way | No |
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
Let’s start with the fundamental issue – headphones can be connected to any smartphone via Bluetooth and use them without any additional options, which in their case are really a lot. They are compatible with Android smartphones from version 7.0 upwards, with 1.5 GB RAM or more.
They will also work with iPhones, i.e. iOS smartphones, but you have to take into account the limited capabilities of Android. Some functions are also exclusive to smartphones from the Samsung Galaxy series, but more on that later. For this material, I tested the headphones with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G.
Inside the Galaxy Buds Pro headphones structure, there is an 11 mm woofer responsible for bass and a 6.5 mm tweeter, whose task is to provide a wide soundstage and clear sound. Or at least, in theory, it is so, and with these words, Samsung is trying to convince us that it is worth taking possession of this model, adding that the headphones support AAC, SBS, and Samsung Scalable Codec.Â
Jabra Elite 85t
The pairing itself is a breeze – remove the headphones from the case so that they connect to the device you remembered earlier. To connect more, hold down the button on both headphones at the same time. The headphones connect very efficiently and quickly with the remembered device, although it will not be without reservations … but more on that later.
The Jabra Sound + app is so feature-rich that it’s hard to cover all of them. So let’s focus on the most interesting. In addition to the aforementioned personalization of the buttons, it is the MyFit function, which facilitates the appropriate selection of the size of the rubber tips (the headphones play sounds and “measure” whether we properly seal the ear canal).
Theoretically, there is nothing to talk about – just put the headphones in your ears and… listen. From the technical side, I have one big reservation. Unfortunately, the Jabra Elite 85t work in master/slave mode – the right handset is the master, while the left handset receives information only through communication with the former.
So it turns out that if we want to use only one handset, we have to use the right one – otherwise, the smartphone will not detect the device. The communication between the headphones is perfect, but this is still not the comfort level achieved through asymmetrical communication.
Battery
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro | Jabra Elite 85t | |
| Battery Type | Li-Po | Li-polymer |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours (28 with charging case) | 31 Hours |
| Charge Time | 10min Charging/85 min Play | Approx. 2.5-3 hours |
| Charging Port | USB-C | USB-C |
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
The headphone battery itself (each has 61 mAh) is supposed to last up to 5 hours of music playback with ANC turned on and recharging via the case (which has a 472 mAh cell) – up to 18 hours. With ANC turned off, the working time is to be extended to 8 hours on a single charge, and the case is to be topped up for another 20 hours.Â
Occasional listening to music for just over 2 hours with ANC causes a decrease in% of the battery by about 40%, while with ANC turned off – by 25%.
Remember that if you put your headphones somewhere for a long time because you stop using them, be sure to put them in the case. Otherwise, they will be constantly connected to the phone and still on standby, which means their battery will be discharged even though they are left unused.
Jabra Elite 85t
The manufacturer’s declarations are surprisingly close to reality. With almost constant use of ANC mode, the headphones can last literally 5.5 hours of battery life. Due to the different specifics of using the headphones, you will probably fit within five or six hours of work on a single charge. You could probably save an extra hour by resigning from the ANC mode, but I must admit that … the game is not worth the candle. ANC, although imperfectly, cuts us off from the environment in a pleasant way, and when we need contact with the environment, HearThrough works great.
In case the 5.5 hours on a single charge are not enough for you, you can seek help from the charging case. It stores energy for just over three full charges of the earbuds, and putting them in the case for several minutes will provide us with an hour of listening. In my opinion – more than enough.
We have to spend quite a lot of time charging the case itself – you have to consider the fact that we will spend 2.5-3.5 hours on it. However, the whole thing is a bit easier to swallow when we can use USB Type-C and wireless charging.
Connectivity
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro | Jabra Elite 85t | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Sensor | Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Hall, Touch, VPU | Approx. 10 meter |
| NFC | No | No |
| Multi-Device Connection | Yes | Yes |
Conclusion!
All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro headphones are great, but they have their own minor downsides. In my opinion, Samsung has made a big step forward, especially concerning the Galaxy Buds Live, and it will probably not be a surprise if I say that these are the best headphones in the company’s offer.
The style, design, quality of artistry, usability of the charging case, and… comfort of use also speak for the Jabra Elite 85t. A great and very functional pairing application with reliability makes them headphones that are always nice to reach – because you never have to wonder if everything will be connected as it should. An additional advantage is the possibility of a very extensive personalization of the control.
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